Last Updated : 08 Jul, 2022 03:43 PM
Published : 08 Jul 2022 03:43 PM
Last Updated : 08 Jul 2022 03:43 PM
Kolkata: “I played for 13 consecutive years. I didn’t take a break like many players do now,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said.
When the match-fixing controversy engulfed the Indian cricket team, Ganguly took over as the captain of the team. One of the greatest captains of the Indian team. The team led by him made it to the final of the ODI World Cup in 2003. Many talented players made their debut under his leadership. He is the father of the cricket that the Indian team is now playing fearlessly.
However, by 2005 he began to experience setbacks. There was a conflict of opinion especially between the coach and him. Then he was out for about six months without a chance to play in the team. Now Ganguly remembers about it.
“I don’t think playing domestic cricket is tough. But the environment was tough for me because it was beyond batting and bowling.
I couldn’t control it. I have been playing cricket for the team for about 13 years without rest. Before that I never missed a single episode. I didn’t take a break like a lot of players do now. So I look at those 4 to 7 months of non-play as the rest I took after playing 13 consecutive years in my 17-year cricket career.
I was in deep despair then. At the same time I believed I had cricket in me. Because of that I came to the conclusion that I need to prove who I am to myself. I did it,” Ganguly said.
Ganguly lost the captaincy due to a clash with the coach. He was later released from the team due to poor form. After that he got an opportunity to play in the team for the South African series. It is noteworthy that after several months he gave a comeback to the team.
Ganguly has played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs. He has added 18,575 runs through it. This includes 107 fifties and 38 hundreds. It is also noteworthy that he is celebrating his 50th birthday today.
Happy Birthday Ganguly!